Methods, systems and devices for measuring heart rate

ABSTRACT

A system and method of tracking activity includes a motion sensor, a light source and a light detector. The light detector is configured to capture an amount of the light that is reflected back to the light detector, at least a first portion of the light reflected back to the light detector is reflected from a blood vessel disposed under a skin adjacent to the housing. A processor is in communication with the motion sensor and the light detector and can process the reflected light to identify heart beats and produce an indication of a heart rate. The indication of the heart rate can be displayed on the display screen as an option, in addition to the metrics that quantify the motion data.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/639,409, filed on Mar. 5, 2015 andentitled “Methods, Systems and Devices for Measuring Fingertip HeartRate,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/302,360 (grantedas U.S. Pat. No. 9,039,614), filed on Jun. 11, 2014 and entitled“Methods, Systems and Devices for Measuring Fingertip Heart Rate,” whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/302,360 is a continuation of and claims priorityfrom U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/156,381 (granted as U.S. Pat.No. 8,827,906), filed on Jan. 15, 2014 and entitled “Methods, Systemsand Devices for Measuring Fingertip Heart Rate,” which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. This application also claimspriority, through U.S. Pat. No. 8,827,906, from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/924,547 filed on Jan. 7, 2014 and entitled “Methods,Systems and Devices for Measuring Fingertip Heart Rate,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application alsoclaims priority, through U.S. Pat. No. 8,827,906, from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/752,826 filed on Jan. 15, 2013 and entitled“Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods of Operating Same,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application alsoclaims priority through U.S. Pat. No. 8,827,906, from U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 61/830,600 filed on Jun. 3, 2013 and entitled“Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods of Operating Same,” which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for capturingbodily activity and synchronizing data transfers between a capturedevice and a client device.

In recent years, the need for health and fitness has grown tremendously.The growth has occurred due to a better understanding of the benefits ofgood fitness to overall health and wellness. Unfortunately, althoughtoday's modern culture has brought about many new technologies, such asthe Internet, connected devices and computers, people have become lessactive. Additionally, many office jobs require people to sit in front ofcomputer screens for long periods of time, which further reduces aperson's activity levels. Furthermore, much of today's entertainmentoptions involve viewing multimedia content, computer social networking,and other types of computer involved interfacing. Although such computeractivity can be very productive as well as entertaining, such activitytends to reduce a person's overall physical activity.

To provide users concerned with health and fitness a way of measuring oraccounting for their activity or lack thereof, fitness trackers areoften used. Fitness trackers are used to measure activity, such aswalking, motion, running, sleeping, being inactive, bicycling,exercising on an elliptical trainer, and the like. Usually, the datacollected by such fitness trackers can be transferred and viewed on acomputing device. However, such data is often provided as a basicaccumulation of activity data with complicated or confusing interfaces.In addition, updates between a tracker and a client device usuallyrequire wired connectors and/or complex syncing schemes.

It is in this context that embodiments described herein arise.

SUMMARY

Broadly speaking, the present invention fills these needs by providing asystem and method for detecting and measuring a user's heart rate. Itshould be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented innumerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, computerreadable media, or a device. Several inventive embodiments of thepresent invention are described below.

One embodiment provides an activity tracking device having a motionsensor and a processor in a housing. The processor configured forprocessing motion data produced by the motion sensor. A display screenis integrated with the housing to display metrics that quantify themotion data produced by the motion sensor. A light source is integratedwithin the housing to enable light to be directed out of the housing ata heart rate monitor location on the housing and a light detector isintegrated within the housing. The light detector configured to capturean amount of the light that is reflected back to the light detector, atleast a first portion of the light reflected back to the light detectoris reflected from a blood vessel under a skin of a user when the userplaces the skin over the heart rate monitor location on the housing. Theprocessor is also in communication with the light detector to processthe reflected light to identify heart beats of the user and produce anindication of a heart rate that can be displayed on the display screen,as an option, in addition to the metrics that quantify the motion data.

The processor can differentiate between a baseline light scattering andreflectance signal detected between the each one of multiple heart beatsand a second light scattering and reflectance signal corresponding to atleast one heart beat in the blood vessel. The second reflectance signalbeing less than the baseline reflectance signal, where the blood vesselscatters more of the light during the at least one heart beat thanbetween each one of the multiple heart beats.

The motion sensor can be one of or include an accelerometer, or a globalpositioning sensor, or a magnetometer, or a gyroscope, or a rotaryencoder, or a calorie measurement sensor, or a moisture measurementsensor, or a displacement sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor, or apedometer, or an altimeter, or a linear motion sensor, or an angularmotion sensor, or a multi-axis motion sensor, or a combination of two ormore thereof.

The activity tracking device can also include a communicationtransceiver configured for communicating via at least one a wirelessnetwork, an ambient light sensor, an indicator for visually identifyingthe heart rate monitor location on the housing and at least one infrared(IR) proximity sensor associated with the light source and lightdetector. The IR proximity sensor can be configured to activate thelight source and light detector upon detecting presence of the skin ofthe user. Detecting presence of the skin of the user can also functionto navigate to one or more metrics of the display screen.

The activity tracking device can also include a pressure detectingsystem configured for detecting a pressure applied to the heart ratemonitor location on the housing with the skin of the user during theidentification of heart beats. The activity tracking device can outputat least one a feedback signal regarding the detected pressure appliedto the heart rate monitor location, the feedback indication beingindicative of more or less pressure desired to produce the heart rate,the feedback signal including at least one of a visual signal, a graphicsignal, a tactile signal, and an audible signal. The pressure detectingsystem can include at least one of processing of the reflected light toidentify one of an excess pressure, an insufficient pressure or anacceptable pressure from the detected heart beats of the user, or apressure sensor in the button.

The activity tracking device can also include a display of one or bothof waveform data or numerical data when the skin of the user is over theheart rate monitor location and the heart beats are being identifiedover a sampling time period and upon concluding the sampling timeperiod, displaying the heart rate on the display screen. At least onerecalled heart rate can be displayed on the display screen. The lightdetector can be disposed next to the light source.

The heart rate can be calculated based on an algorithm that detectsmultiple heart beats in the light received in the light detector withina sampling time period, measures a first time interval between a firstbeat of the detected heart beats and a second beat of the detected heartbeats and divides the sample time interval by the first time interval todetermine a first estimate of heart beats detected within the samplingtime period. The first estimate of heart beats is extrapolated withinthe sampling time period to a first estimated heart beats per minute andthe first estimate heart beats per minute is output to the displayscreen.

The heart rate can be calculated based on an algorithm that adds atleast one beat to the first estimate of heart beats to produce a secondestimate of heart beats and subtracts at least one beat from the firstestimate of beats to produce a third estimate of heart beats. The firstestimate of heart beats, the second estimate of heart beats and thethird estimate of heart beats are scored and a highest scoring estimateof heart beats is selected and output to the display screen.

The light source and the reflected light detector can be selected forany suitable wavelength or suitable band of wavelengths of light rangingfrom between infrared wavelengths through a human visible spectrum toultraviolet wavelengths. The light source includes at least one of aninfrared (IR) light source, wherein the IR light emitted from the lightsource produces a deadfront at the heart rate monitor location of thehousing or a green light source and the heart rate monitor locationincludes a translucent green window.

The heart rate monitor location includes a cover that enables infrared(IR) light of the light source or any other wavelength of light from thelight source to pass while blocking substantially all light in a humanvisible spectrum. The light source and light detector can additionallyfunction as a proximity sensor to activate the display screen. The heartrate monitor location can include a button. The button can have aninfrared (IR) light transmitting structure. The light source and thelight detector can be disposed substantially below the button. Thebutton can also function to navigate to one or more metrics of thedisplay screen. The functions to navigate can be enabled while the heartbeats are measured. The skin can be of a finger of a user.

Another embodiment provides a method of tracking activity includingsensing motion with a motion sensor, the motion sensor including aprocessor. The processor is configured for processing motion dataproduced by the motion sensor. Metrics that quantify the motion dataproduced by the motion sensing can be displayed on a device displayscreen integrated with a housing of the motion sensor. A directed lightis emitted from a light source, the light source being included in thehousing at a heart rate monitor location on the housing and an amount ofthe light that is reflected back to a light detector is captured by thelight detector integrated within the housing. At least a first portionof the light reflected back to the light detector is reflected from ablood vessel disposed under a skin of a user when the user places theskin over the heart rate monitor location on the housing. The processorfurther being in communication with the light detector to enableprocessing of the reflected light to identify heart beats of the userand produce an indication of a heart rate. The indication of the heartrate being displayable on the display screen as an option, in additionto the metrics that quantify the motion data.

The method can also include detecting a pressure applied to the heartrate monitor location of the housing with the skin of the user duringthe identification of heart beats, the pressure being detected by apressure detecting system included in the housing and outputting afeedback signal regarding the detected pressure applied to the heartrate monitor location, the feedback indication being indicative of moreor less pressure desired to produce the heart rate. One or both ofwaveform data or numerical data can be displayed when the skin of theuser is over the heart rate monitor location and the heart beats arebeing identified over a sampling time period. The heart rate can bedisplayed on the display screen upon concluding the sampling timeperiod.

Yet another embodiment provides a heart rate monitor including a lightsource and a light detector disposed to receive light emitted from thelight source and reflected from a blood vessel disposed within in aheart rate monitor subject. A display screen and a processor coupled tothe light source, the light detector and the display screen, are alsoincluded.

Still another embodiment provides an activity tracking device includinga housing including a motion sensor and a processor. The processor isconfigured for processing motion data produced by the motion sensor. Adisplay screen is integrated with the housing to display metrics thatquantify the motion data produced by the motion sensor. A light sourceis also integrated within the housing to enable light to be directed outof the housing at a heart rate monitor location on the housing and alight detector is integrated within the housing. The light detector isconfigured to capture an amount of the light that is reflected back tothe light detector. At least a first portion of the light reflected backto the light detector is reflected from a blood vessel disposed under askin of a user when the user places the skin over the heart rate monitorlocation on the housing. The processor is also in communication with thelight detector to enable processing of the reflected light to identifyheart beats of the user and produce an indication of a heart rate thatcan be displayed on the display screen, as an option, in addition to themetrics that quantify the motion data. Other aspects and advantages ofthe invention will become apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be readily understood by the followingdetailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an activity tracking device, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of an activity tracking device having ahousing in the form of a wearable wrist attachable device.

FIG. 1C illustrates another example of an activity tracking device, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of activity tracking device of FIG. 1A,showing some additional example components utilized for trackingactivity and motion of the device, and associated interfaces to displayscreen.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of activity tracking device incommunication with a remote device.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of activity tracking devices havinga heart rate measuring system in the form of a wearable wrist attachabledevice, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate another example of an activity trackingdevice, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart diagram of heart rate measuring system, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a graphical representation of an example series of peakscorresponding to detected heart beats captured during a sampling timeperiod STP, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4C is a graphical representation of the filtering process for theabove example series of peaks, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram of the method operations for detecting aheart rate, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A-D illustrate different presentations of the calculated heartrate on the display screen, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart diagram of the method operations for adjustingthe user pressure on the activity tracking device while detecting aheart rate, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIGS. 7B and 7C show feedback signals on the activity tracing devicedisplay, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example where various types of activities of userscan be captured by activity tracking devices, in accordance withembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several exemplary embodiments for activity tracking devices and methodscapable monitoring and displaying both a user's activities and theuser's heart rate will now be described. It will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced withoutsome or all of the specific details set forth herein.

The user's heart rate can be measured by directing a light of a suitablewavelength into a user's skin and capturing a portion of the lightreflected from a user's blood vessel inside the user's body. Thereflected light includes data corresponding to the user's heart beats.Using this heart beat data and filtering methods and systems provide arapid, accurate measurement of the user's heart rate. Thereby allowingthe user to monitor both his activity and his heart rate. Motion datafrom a motion sensor within the activity tracking device can be used toidentify false heart beats and provide a more accurate heart rateindication to the user, even while the user is engaged in a rigorousactivity.

Embodiments described in the present disclosure provide systems,apparatus, computer readable media, and methods for analyzing trackedactivity data and providing navigation screens and interfaces. Someembodiments are directed to providing navigation interfaces for anactivity tracking device. The activity tracking device includes sensorsfor detecting when physical contact occurs onto the activity trackingdevice and logic for providing a display action to the screen of theactivity tracking device. The physical contact, in one embodiment, canbe qualified as an input when the physical contact has a particularcharacteristic that is predefined. The characteristic can be, when thecontact is the result of one or more taps, e.g., physical contact to theactivity tracking device by a finger or hand of the user, or object heldby a user and used to impart the contact.

In other embodiments, the input can be non-physical, such as proximitysensing input. The proximity sensing input can be processed by aninfrared proximity sensor, a thermal sensor, etc. The input can also beby way of a button, voice input, gaze detected input, input processed inresponse to motion or motion profiles, etc.

It should be noted that there are many inventions described andillustrated herein. The present inventions are neither limited to anysingle aspect nor embodiment thereof, nor to any combinations and/orpermutations of such aspects and/or embodiments. Moreover, each of theaspects of the present inventions, and/or embodiments thereof, may beemployed alone or in combination with one or more of the other aspectsof the present inventions and/or embodiments thereof. For the sake ofbrevity, many of those permutations and combinations will not bediscussed separately herein.

Further, in the course of describing and illustrating the presentinventions, various circuitry, architectures, structures, components,functions and/or elements, as well as combinations and/or permutationsthereof, are set forth. It should be understood that circuitry,architectures, structures, components, functions and/or elements otherthan those specifically described and illustrated, are contemplated andare within the scope of the present inventions, as well as combinationsand/or permutations thereof.

FIG. 1A shows a block diagram of an activity tracking device 100, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. The activitytracking device 100 is contained in a housing 101, which may be worn orheld by a user. The housing 101 may be in the form of a wristband, aclip on device, a wearable device, or may be held by the user either inthe user's hand or in a pocket or attached to the user's body. Theactivity tracking device 100 includes device components 102, which maybe in the form of logic, storage, and glue logic, one or moreprocessors, microelectronics, and interfacing circuitry. In one example,the components 102 will include a processor 106, memory 108, a wirelesstransceiver 110, a user interface 114, biometric sensors 116, andenvironmental sensors 118.

The environmental sensors 118 may be in the form of motion detectingsensors 118A. In some embodiments, a motion sensor 118A can be one ormore of an accelerometer, or a gyroscope, or a rotary encoder, or acalorie measurement sensor, or a heat measurement sensor, or a moisturemeasurement sensor, or a displacement sensor, or an ultrasonic sensor,or a pedometer, or an altimeter, or a linear motion sensor, or anangular motion sensor, or a multi-axis motion sensor, or a combinationthereof.

The biometric sensors 116 can be defined to measure physiologicalcharacteristics of the user that is using the activity tracking device100. The user interface 114 provides a way for communicating with theactivity tracking device 100, in response to user interaction 104. Theuser interaction 104 can be in the form of physical contact (e.g.,without limitation, tapping, sliding, rubbing, multiple taps, gestures,etc.). The biometric sensors 116 can be a one or more proximity sensors184 capable of detecting the user's presence or touch within apredefined distance or proximity The proximity sensor 184 can be aninfrared (IR) proximity sensor associated with the light source 181 andlight detector 182, the IR proximity sensor configured to activate thelight source and light detector upon detecting presence of the skin ofthe user.

The light source 181 and the light detector 182 are located near theexternal surface of the activity tracking device 100 at a heart ratemonitor location 183. The heart rate monitor location 183 can include anindicator such as a marking or an image so the user can easily identifythe heart rate monitor location 183. The marking or image can be araised dot or dimple or a depression or an image of the fingerprint orthe heart or any other suitable indication of the heart rate monitorlocation 183. The heart rate monitor location 183 can include a coverthat enables infrared (IR) light of the light source 181 to pass whileblocking substantially all light in a human visible spectrum. The heartrate monitor location 183 can include the button 126 or be separate fromthe button. In one embodiment, the button 126 has an infrared (IR) lighttransmitting structure and the light source 181 and the light detector182 are disposed below the button, inside the housing. The button 126can also provide navigation functions to one or more metrics of thedisplay screen 122.

In some embodiments, the user interface 114 is configured to receiveuser interaction 104 that is in the form of noncontact input. Thenoncontact input can be by way of one or more proximity sensors 184,button presses, touch sensitive screen inputs, graphical user interfaceinputs, voice inputs, sound inputs, etc. The activity tracking device100 can communicate with a client and/or server 112 using the wirelesstransceiver 110. The wireless transceiver 110 will allow the activitytracking device 100 to communicate using a wireless connection, which isenabled by wireless communication logic. The wireless communicationlogic can be in the form of a circuit having radio communicationcapabilities. The radio communication capabilities can be in the form ofa Wi-Fi connection, a Bluetooth connection, a low-energy Bluetoothconnection, or any other form of wireless tethering or near fieldcommunication. In still other embodiments, the activity tracking device100 can communicate with other computing devices using a wiredconnection (not shown). As mentioned, the environmental sensors 118 candetect motion of the activity tracking device 100.

The motion can be activity of the user, such as walking, running, stairclimbing, etc. The motion can also be in the form of physical contactreceived on any surface of the activity tracking device 110, so long asthe environmental sensors 118 can detect such motion from the physicalcontact. As will be explained in more detail below, the physical contactmay be in the form of a tap or multiple taps by a finger upon thehousing of the activity tracking device 100.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of an activity tracking device 100 havinga housing 130 in the form of a wearable wrist attachable device. Thesensors of the activity tracking device 100 can, as mentioned above,detect motion such as physical contact that is applied and received on asurface 120 of the housing 130. In the example shown, the physicalcontact 124 is in the form of a tap or multiple taps on the surface 120.Device components 102 are, in one embodiment, contained within thehousing 130. The location at which the device components 102 areintegrated into the housing 130 can vary. For example, the devicecomponents 102 can be integrated throughout various locations around thehousing 130, and not limited to the central portion of the wristattachable device. In some embodiments, the device components 102 can beintegrated into or with a smart watch device.

In other embodiments, the device components 102 are positionedsubstantially in a central position of the wrist attachable device, suchas under or proximate to a location where a display screen 122 islocated. In the illustrated example, the housing 130 also includes abutton 126. The button 126 can be pressed to activate the display screen122, navigate to various metrics displayed on the screen 122, or turnoff the screen 122.

FIG. 1C illustrates another example of an activity tracking device 100,in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The form factorof the activity tracking device 100 is shown as a clickable device thatincludes a screen 122, a button 126, and device components 102integrated within the housing 130′. The housing 130′ can include a clipthat allows for attachment to clothing or articles of the user, or tosimply place the device within a pocket or holder of the user.Accordingly, the physical contact 124 such as a touch or a tap, as shownwith respect to FIG. 1B, can also be implemented upon the surface 120 ofactivity tracking device 100 of FIG. 1C. It should be understood,therefore, that the form factor of the activity tracking device 100 cantake on various configurations and should not be limited to the exampleconfigurations provided herein.

FIG. 2A illustrates an example of activity tracking device 100 of FIG.1A, showing some additional example components utilized for trackingactivity and motion of the device, and associated interfaces to displayscreen 122. In this example, the finger of a user can be used to tap andprovide physical contact 124 onto any surface 120 of activity trackingdevice 100. The physical contact, when sensed by sensors 184 of theactivity tracking device 100, will cause a response by the activitytracking device 100, and therefore provide some metric on the displayscreen 122. In one embodiment, examples of a display screen 122 caninclude, but are not limited to, liquid crystal display (LCD) screens,light emitting diode (LED) screens, organic light emitting diode (OLED)screens, plasma display screens, etc.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the activity tracking device 100 includes logic158. Logic 158 may include activity tracking logic 140, physical contactlogic 142, display interface logic 144, alarm management logic 146,wireless communication logic 148, processor 106, and sensors 184.Additionally, storage (e.g. memory) 108, and a battery 154 can beintegrated within the activity tracking device 100. The activitytracking logic 140 can include logic that is configured to processmotion data produced by motion sensors 118, so as to quantify the motionand produce identifiable metrics associated with the motion.

Some motions will produce and quantify various types of metrics, such asstep count, stairs climbed, distance traveled, very active minutes,calories burned, etc. The physical contact logic 142 can include logicthat calculates or determines when particular physical contact canqualify as an input. To qualify as an input, the physical contactdetected by biometric sensors 116 should have a particular pattern thatis identifiable as input. For example, the input may be predefined to bea double tap input, and the physical contact logic 142 can analyze themotion to determine if a double tap indeed occurred in response toanalyzing the sensor data produced by sensors 116, 118.

In other embodiments, the physical contact logic can be programmed todetermine when particular physical contacts occurred, the time inbetween the physical contacts, and whether the one or more physicalcontacts will qualify within predefined motion profiles that wouldindicate that an input is desired. If physical contact occurs that isnot within some predefined profile or pattern, the physical contactlogic will not indicate or qualify that physical contact as an input.

The display interface logic 144 is configured to interface with theprocessor and the physical contact logic to determine when specificmetric data will be displayed on the display screen 122 of the activitytracking device 100. The display interface logic 144 can act to turn onthe screen, display metric information, display characters oralphanumeric information, display graphical user interface graphics, orcombinations thereof. Alarm management logic 146 can function to providea user interface and settings for managing and receiving input from auser to set an alarm. The alarm management logic can interface with atimekeeping module (e.g., clock, calendar, time zone, etc.), and cantrigger the activation of an alarm. The alarm can be in the form of anaudible alarm or a non-audible alarm.

A non-audible alarm can provide such alarm by way of a vibration. Thevibration can be produced by a motor integrated in the activity trackingdevice 100. The vibration can be defined to include various vibrationpatterns, intensities, and custom set patterns. The vibration producedby the motor or motors of the activity tracking device 100 can bemanaged by the alarm management logic 146 in conjunction with processingby the processor 106. The wireless communication logic 148 is configuredfor communication of the activity tracking device with another computingdevice by way of a wireless signal. The wireless signal can be in theform of a radio signal. As noted above, the radio signal can be in theform of a Wi-Fi signal, a Bluetooth signal, a low energy Bluetoothsignal, or combinations thereof. The wireless communication logic caninterface with the processor 106, storage 108 and battery 154 of device100, for transferring activity data, which may be in the form of motiondata or processed motion data, stored in the storage 108 to thecomputing device.

In one embodiment, processor 106 functions in conjunction with thevarious logic components 140, 142, 144, 146, and 148. The processor 106can, in one embodiment, provide the functionality of any one or all ofthe logic components. In other embodiments, multiple chips can be usedto separate the processing performed by any one of the logic componentsand the processor 106. Sensors 116, 118 can communicate via a bus withthe processor 106 and/or the logic components. The storage 108 is alsoin communication with the bus for providing storage of the motion dataprocessed or tracked by the activity tracking device 100. Battery 154 isprovided for providing power to the activity tracking device 100.

FIG. 2B illustrates an example of activity tracking device 100 incommunication with a remote device 200. Remote device 200 is a computingdevice that is capable of communicating wirelessly with activitytracking device 100 and with the Internet 160. Remote device 200 cansupport installation and execution of applications. Such applicationscan include an activity tracking application 202. Activity trackingapplication 202 can be downloaded from a server. The server 220 can be aspecialized server or a server that provides applications to devices,such as an application store. Once the activity tracking application 202is installed in the remote device 200, the remote device 200 cancommunicate or be set to communicate with activity tracking device 100(Device A). The remote device 200 can be a smartphone, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, orany other computing device capable of wirelessly interfacing with DeviceA 100 and the Internet 160.

In one embodiment, remote device 200 communicates with activity trackingdevice 100 over a Bluetooth connection. In one embodiment, the Bluetoothconnection is a low energy Bluetooth connection (e.g., Bluetooth LE,BLE, or Bluetooth Smart). Low energy Bluetooth is configured forproviding low power consumption relative to standard Bluetoothcircuitry. Low energy Bluetooth uses, in one embodiment, a 2.4 GHz radiofrequency, which allows for dual mode devices to share a single radioantenna. In one embodiment, low energy Bluetooth connections canfunction at distances up to 50 meters, with over the air data ratesranging between 1-3 megabits (Mb) per second. In one embodiment, aproximity distance for communication can be defined by the particularwireless link, and is not tied to any specific standard. It should beunderstood that the proximity distance limitation will change inaccordance with changes to existing standards and in view of futurestandards and/or circuitry and capabilities.

Remote device 200 can also communicate with the Internet 160 using anInternet connection. The Internet connection of the remote device 200can include cellular connections, wireless connections such as Wi-Fi,and combinations thereof (such as connections to switches betweendifferent types of connection links). The remote device, as mentionedabove, can be a smartphone or tablet computer, or any other type ofcomputing device having access to the Internet and with capabilities forcommunicating with the activity tracking device 100.

A server 220 is also provided, which is interfaced with the Internet160. The server 220 can include a number of applications that servicethe activity tracking device 100, and the associated users of theactivity tracking device 100 by way of user accounts. For example, theserver 220 can include an activity management application 224. Theactivity management application 224 can include logic for providingaccess to various devices 100, which are associated with user accountsmanaged by server 220. Server 220 can include storage 226 that includesvarious user profiles associated with the various user accounts. Theuser account 228 a for user A and the user account 228 n for user N areshown to include various information.

The information can include, without limitation, data associated with adisplay scroll order 230, user data, etc. As will be described ingreater detail below, the display scroll order 230 includes informationregarding a user's preferences, settings, and configurations which aresettable by the user or set by default at the server 220 when accessinga respective user account. The storage 226 will include any number ofuser profiles, depending on the number of registered users having useraccounts for their respective activity tracking devices. It should alsobe noted that a single user account can have various or multiple devicesassociated therewith, and the multiple devices can be individuallycustomized, managed and accessed by a user. In one embodiment, theserver 220 provides access to a user to view the user data 232associated with activity tracking device.

The user data 232 viewable by the user includes the tracked motion data,which is processed to identify a plurality of metrics associated withthe motion data. The user data 232 viewable by the user can include userheart beat and heart rate data 232A, which is processed to identify aplurality of metrics associated with the user's heart beat.

The metrics are shown in various graphical user interfaces of a websiteenabled by the server 220. The website can include various pages withgraphical user interfaces for rendering and displaying the variousmetrics for view by the user associated with the user account. In oneembodiment, the website can also include interfaces that allow for dataentry and configuration by the user.

The configurations can include defining which metrics will be displayedon the activity tracking device 100. In addition, the configurations caninclude identification of which metrics will be a first metric to bedisplayed on the activity tracking device. The first metric to bedisplayed by the activity tracking device can be in response to a userinput at the activity tracked device 100. As noted above, the user inputcan be by way of physical contact. The physical contact is qualified bythe processor and/or logic of the activity tracking device 100 todetermine if the physical contact should be treated as an input. Theinput can trigger or cause the display screen of the activity trackingdevice 100 to be turned on to display a specific metric, that isselected by the user as the first metric to display. In anotherembodiment, the first metric displayed in response to the input can bepredefined by the system as a default.

The configuration provided by the user by way of the server 220 and theactivity management application 224 can also be provided by way of theactivity tracking application 202 of the computing device 200. Forexample, the activity tracking application 202 can include a pluralityof screens that also display metrics associated with the captured motiondata of the activity tracking device 100. The activity trackingapplication 202 can also allow for user input and configuration atvarious graphical user interface screens to set and define which inputwill produce display of the first metric. In other embodiments, inaddition to identifying the first metric to be displayed in response tothe input, which may be physical contact, the configuration can allow anordering of which metrics will be displayed in a specific scroll order.

In another embodiment, the scroll order of the metrics is predefined. Insome embodiments, the input provided by the user by way of the physicalcontact can be pre-assigned to a specific metric in the scroll order.For example, the scroll order can remain the same, while the input canallow the screen to jump to a specific entry in the scroll order.Jumping to a specific entry can be viewed as a shortcut to a specificentry that is desired to be seen first by the user upon providingphysical contact or input to the device 100.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of activity tracking devices 300,300′ having a heart rate measuring system in the form of a wearablewrist attachable device, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. The form factor of the activity tracking devices 300, 300′can be similar to the above activity tracking devices 100 and includessubstantially similar components with the addition of the heart ratemeasuring system. The user's finger 302 is shown touching the activitytracking device at the heart rate monitor location 183. The light sourceis emitting light 320 into the user's skin 306. A portion 322 of thelight 320 is reflected from the user's blood vessel 304.

FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate another example of an activity trackingdevice 300″, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.The form factor of the activity tracking device 300″ is shown as aclipable device that includes a spring loaded hinge 340, a screen 122, abutton 126, and device components 102 integrated within the housing 190.The housing 190 can be a shape capable of receiving a user's finger 302and pressing down on the finger from one or both sides of the finger.Inserting the user's finger 302 can provide the physical contact or tapneeded to initiate certain functions of the tracking device 100 as willbe described in more detail below.

The heart rate measuring system includes a light source 181 and areflected light detector 182. The light source 181 and the reflectedlight detector 182 are located close together in the activity trackingdevices 300, 300′, 300″. In one embodiment the light source 181 and thereflected light detector 182 can be immediately adjacent. The lightsource 181 and the reflected light detector 182 can be included in asingle package and/or a single integrated circuit. The light source 181and the reflected light detector 182 can be selected for any onesuitable wavelength or suitable band of wavelengths of light rangingfrom between infrared, through a human visible spectrum to ultravioletwavelengths. The heart rate monitor location 183 can include a coverthat enables light of the light source to pass while blockingsubstantially all light in a human visible spectrum. The cover can be asmoked filter or other suitable filter color or shaded plastic or glassor shaded glass, transparent or translucent glass or plastic or ceramicor any other suitable material capable of allowing the desiredwavelengths of light to pass through the cover. In one embodiment, thelight source 181 uses an infrared (IR) light and the IR light produces adeadfront at the heart rate monitor location 183. Where a deadfront isdefined as a continuous surface such that the cover is not easilydiscernable from the remaining surface of the housing. A deadfront coveris substantially hidden from the user however a light source 181 or thedisplay screen 122 can emits sufficient light to pass through the cover.In another embodiment, the light source 181 can be a green light and theheart rate monitor location 183 can include a translucent green window.

In operation, the user places the skin 306 of a finger tip 302 or otherbody part over the light source 181. The light source 181 directs thelight 310 into the skin 306. The light 310 passes through the skin 306to a blood vessel 304 such as an artery, vein, or a capillary within thefinger 302. A reflected portion 312 of the light 310 is reflected fromthe blood vessel 304 toward the reflected light detector 182. The lightdetector 182 outputs a signal corresponding to the reflected portion 312of the light. The signal is coupled to a processor 106 for processingconfigured to identify heart beats of the user and produce an indicationof a heart rate. The indication of the heart rate can be displayed onthe display screen 122.

One embodiment may use a portion of the teachings of detecting heartbeats by reflecting light from a blood vessel, as taught, in part by“Plug-and-Play, Single-Chip Photoplethysmography” by DeepakChandrasekar, et al., pages 3243-3246, presented 34th AnnualInternational Conference of the IEEE EMBS, San Diego, Calif. USA, 28Aug.-1 Sep. 2012 which is incorporated by reference herein for allpurposes.

Chandrasekar, et al, provides in pertinent part “a digital OPS can beused as a high-performance, reflectance-mode PPG sensor . . . LED emitslight into the tissue, where it experiences diffuse reflection from thetissue and capillary bed. This establishes a baseline reflectance signalwhich is detected at the PD. When a pulse wave propagates through thecapillary bed, the reflectance signal falls slightly (0.5-5%) due tolight scattering. The change is detected by the PD and processed byembedded amplification and signal processing circuitry” (Page 3244,column 1, line 34 through column 2, line 7 and FIG. 2). Where an OPS isdefined as an optical proximity sensor, a PPG sensor is defined as aphotoplethysmographic sensor and a PD is defined as a photodiode.

It should be understood that the teachings described by areChandrasekar, et al only examples and other examples can includedifferent and additional processes and systems as described in moredetail throughout this disclosure. Further, Chandrasekar, et al, failsto teach suitable filtering to provide accurate hear rate indications.Further still, Chandrasekar, et al, cannot discern motion caused falseheart beat detections from actual hear beat detections.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart diagram of heart rate measuring system, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. The heart ratemeasuring system detects the heart beats and interprets the detectedheart beats to peaks. The detected peaks include timing informationcorresponding to the time interval between the detected peaks. Thedetected peaks also include information of the number of detected peakswithin a selected sampling time period. The sampling time period can bedetermined by extent peaks such as the first detected peak and the lastdetected peak. The number of detected peaks within the sampling timeperiod can be used to calculate an estimated heart rate in the form ofbeats per minute. The timing of the detected peaks can be used toevaluate the estimated heart rate to determine a best guess of theuser's actual heart rate.

FIG. 4B is a graphical representation 420 of an example series of peakscorresponding to detected heart beats captured during a sampling timeperiod STP, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Thesolid line peaks A, B, C, E, G and I the dashed peak F represent the rawdata detected during the sampling time period STP.

The solid line peaks A, B, C, E, G and I correspond to actual detectedheart beats. The dashed peak F corresponds to a phantom beat detection.The phantom peak F can be caused by movement of the user's finger or theactivity tracking device 300. The phantom peak F can be caused by noiseor some other cause.

The dotted peaks D and H correspond to approximate occurrences of heartbeats that should have been detected, based on the timing of theactually detected peaks A, B, C, E, G and I. The dotted peaks D and Hare not actually detected peaks and are shown in the graphicalrepresentation 420 for reference purposes as will be described in moredetail below.

The raw heart beat data is next filtered to determine a best guess heartrate. FIG. 4C is a graphical representation 450 of the filtering processfor the above example series of peaks, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention. The peaks A-I are transferred to FIG. 4C as areference. Each of the horizontal lines of small circles represents adifferent estimate of peaks. Six actual peaks A, B, C, E, G and Icorrespond to six actual heart beats that were detected and one phantompeak F was detected giving a total of seven detected peaks.

Human heart beats are typically substantially evenly spaced, thus theseven detected peaks are separated by even time intervals across thesampling time period STP as shown in the estimated 7 peaks detectedline. However, the filtering process evaluates the detection process todetermine if the initial estimate of seven peaks is accurate asdescribed in FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart diagram of the method operations 500 for detectinga heart rate, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.In an operation 505, the user touches the heart rate monitor location183 and/or presses the button 126 on the activity monitor to initiatethe heart rate detection. The light source 181 and detector 182 arelocated inside the activity tracking device near the heart rate detectorheart rate monitor location 183. The heart rate monitor location 183 caninclude a proximity sensor and/or the button 126 as described above.

In an operation 510, the light source 181 emits a light 320 into theuser's skin and at least a portion of the light 322 is reflected off ofa blood vessel 304 inside the user's skin. The detector 182 receives thereflected light 322 in an operation 515 and outputs the raw data of thedetected beats within a sampling time period STP, as shown in FIG. 4B,to the processor 106 in an operation 520. The raw data of the detectedbeats is refined and evaluated to produce a more accurate heart rate.

As shown in FIG. 4C, the initial estimate of the seven detected heartbeats are illustrated as seven, evenly spaced peaks. In an operation 525at least one beat is added to the initial estimate of seven beats toproduce a corresponding at least one added estimate. In the exampleabove two peaks are added resulting in corresponding added estimates ofan eight beat estimate and a nine beat estimate. It should be understoodthat only one or more than two beats could be added.

In an operation 530, at least one peak is subtracted from the initialestimate of seven beats to produce a corresponding at least onesubtracted estimate. In the example above two beats are subtractedresulting in corresponding subtracted estimates of a six beat estimateand a five beat estimate. It should be understood that only one or morethan two beats could be subtracted. As shown in the graphicalrepresentation 450, estimated lines of beats corresponding to five, six,eight and nine peaks are shown evenly distributed across the samplingtime period STP.

In an operation 535, each of the five estimated lines of beats arecompared to the actually detected peaks A, B, C, E, F, G and I todetermine how well each line of beats scores as most closely matchingthe actually detected peaks A, B, C, E, F, G and I. By way of example,the five beats estimate line closely corresponds to only actuallydetected peak A and phantom peak F resulting in a corresponding score of2. Further, the six beats estimate line closely corresponds to onlyactually detected peaks A, E and G resulting in a corresponding score of3. Further, the initial estimate of seven beats estimate line closelycorresponds to only actually detected peaks A, B and C and phantom peakF resulting in a corresponding score of 4. The eight beats estimate lineclosely corresponds to peaks A, B, C, E, G and I resulting in acorresponding score of 6. Finally, the nine beats estimate line closelycorresponds to peaks A, B, C and I and phantom peak F resulting in acorresponding score of 5.

In an operation 540, the eight beats estimate provides the highest scoreof 6 and is therefore selected as a potential heart rate for furtherevaluation. However, only seven peaks were detected by the heart ratemonitoring system and thus the eight beats potential heart rate could bean error.

In an operation 545, intervals between the seven detected beats aremeasured. Recall that human heart beats are substantially evenly spacedand there are three substantially evenly spaced peaks A, B, C in theseven detected beats. The time interval between the substantially evenlyspaced peaks A, B, C is selected as a potential beat interval.

In an operation 550, the potential beat interval is compared to theremaining detected beat intervals between peaks C and E, between peaks Eand F, between peaks F and G, and between peaks G and I to identify anytiming intervals closely corresponding to whole number multiples of thepotential beat interval so as to identify missed beats. In the aboveexample, missed peak D is found between detected peaks C and E andmissed peak H is found between detected peaks G and I. The timingintervals between peaks E and F and between peaks F and G aresubstantially less than the potential beat interval and thus peak F isidentified as a phantom peak and the phantom peak F is eliminated in anoperation 555.

In an operation 560, the estimated heart beats are scored similar to thescoring in operation 535 above. The combination of the actually detectedpeaks A, B, C, E, G and I and the missed peaks D and H can be evaluatedfor each of the estimated lines of beats. The eight beats potentialheart rate would yield a resulting score of 8, which would be higherthan the scores of 3, 2, 3, 4 corresponding to five, six, seven and ninebeats estimate lines, respectively. The eight beats potential heart ratecan therefore be determined as the best guess in an operation 565.

In an operation 570, the processor 106 calculates the heart rate. Thesampling time period STP is extrapolated to 60 seconds and thecorresponding heart rate in heart beats per minute is output to thedisplay screen. By way of example, the sampling time period STP is 5.2seconds in the above example. And 60 seconds divided by 5.2 seconds isequal to 11.54. And further, 11.54 multiplied by the seven timeintervals between the evenly spaced estimated eight beats yields acalculated heart rate of 81 beats per minute. In an operation 575, theprocessor 106 outputs the calculated heart rate to the display screen122.

It should be noted that the heart rate measuring system can continue todetect, refine and filter the detected heart beats as long as the user'sskin is in sufficiently close proximity to the light source 181 anddetector 182.

FIGS. 6A-D illustrate different presentations of the calculated heartrate on the display screen 122, in accordance with embodiments of thepresent invention. By way of example, in FIG. 6A the initially detectedheart beats are displayed as peaks 602 and the heart rate 610 isdisplayed numerically “61 HRT”. As the user's finger remains on theactivity tracking device the heart rate is more accurately detected andthe displayed heart rate 610 is updated as shown in FIG. 6B. As shown inFIG. 6C the detected heart beats are displayed as lines 612 and as asinewave 614 in FIG. 6D. It should be noted these examples are merelysome examples of displaying the user's heart rate and others examplescould include flashing an icon or a portion of or the entire the display122 or vibrating the activity tracking device in time with the detectedheart beats and combinations thereof.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart diagram of the method operations for adjustingthe user pressure on the activity tracking device while detecting aheart rate, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.FIGS. 7B and 7C show feedback signals on the activity tracing devicedisplay, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. Thebutton 126 can also include a pressure sensor that can be used todetermine the user's pressure on the heart rate monitor location 183. Inone embodiment, the pressure sensor can include at least one of a straingauge, a push resistance built into the button 126, or a force sensitivefilm under, within or on a surface of the button and combinationsthereof and any other suitable pressure sensor.

Alternatively, the excessive pressure or insufficient pressure candegrade the quality of the heart beat data in the reflected light 322 toa level that the heart rate cannot be suitably monitored. Similarly, theuser's motion, such as running, can interfere with and produce artifactsand false readings. The processor 106 can use the motion sensor toidentify and filter out the falsely detected heart beats from thedetected heart beats. By way of example, the processor can detect whenthe user steps down and the vibration through the user's body andidentify a detected heart beat coinciding with the step as a suspectedfalse heart beat.

From operation 520 in FIG. 5 above, the processor may determine that thedetected heart beats are too erratic to accurately measure in anoperation 710. The detected heart beats are too erratic can be tooerratic due to pressing the user's finger too lightly or too hard on theactivity tracking device. In an operation 715, a feedback to the user isprovided to increase pressure on the activity tracking device. As shownin FIG. 7B the increase pressure feedback can be in the form of one ormore arrows pointing down or toward the user's finger. Alternatively,the activity device can flash a portion or all of the display 122 ordisplay words such as “press down” or icons, or vibrate or othersuitable tactile feedback, visual feedback, or audible feedback to theuser.

The detected heart beats are constantly monitored for usability, in anoperation 720. If increasing the pressure provides usable heart beatdata then the method operations return to operation 525 in FIG. 5. Ifincreasing the pressure does not provide usable heart beat data then themethod operations continue in an operation 725 where the user isprovided feedback to decrease the pressure on the activity trackingdevice. As shown in FIG. 7C the decrease pressure feedback can be in theform of one or more arrows pointing up or away from the user's finger.Alternatively, the activity device can flash a portion or all of thedisplay 122 or display icons or words such as “lighten up” or vibrate orother suitable tactile feedback, visual feedback, or audible feedback tothe user.

The detected heart beats are constantly monitored for usability, in anoperation 730. If decreasing the pressure provides usable heart beatdata then the method operations return to operation 525 in FIG. 5. Ifdecreasing the pressure does not provide usable heart beat data then themethod operations continue in operation 715 as described above.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example where various types of activities of users800A-800I can be captured by activity tracking devices 100, inaccordance with embodiments of the present invention. As shown, thevarious types of activities can generate different types of data thatcan be captured by the activity tracking device 100. The data, which canbe represented as motion data (or processed motion data) can betransferred 820 to a network 176 for processing and saving by a server,as described above. In one embodiment, the activity tracking device 100can communicate to a device using a wireless connection, and the deviceis capable of communicating and synchronizing the captured data with anapplication running on the server. In one embodiment, an applicationrunning on a local device, such as a smart phone or tablet or smartwatch can capture or receive data from the activity tracking device 100and represent the tract motion data in a number of metrics.

In one embodiment, the device collects one or more types ofphysiological and/or environmental data from embedded sensors and/orexternal devices and communicates or relays such metric information toother devices, including devices capable of serving asInternet-accessible data sources, thus permitting the collected data tobe viewed, for example, using a web browser or network-basedapplication. For example, while the user is wearing an activity trackingdevice, the device may calculate and store the user's step count usingone or more sensors. The device then transmits data representative ofthe user's step count to an account on a web service, computer, mobilephone, or health station where the data may be stored, processed, andvisualized by the user. Indeed, the device may measure or calculate aplurality of other physiological metrics in addition to, or in place of,the user's step count.

Some physiological metrics include, but are not limited to, energyexpenditure (for example, calorie burn), floors climbed and/ordescended, heart rate, heart rate variability, heart rate recovery,location and/or heading (for example, through GPS), elevation,ambulatory speed and/or distance traveled, swimming lap count, bicycledistance and/or speed, blood pressure, blood glucose, skin conduction,skin and/or body temperature, electromyography, electroencephalography,weight, body fat, caloric intake, nutritional intake from food,medication intake, sleep periods (i.e., clock time), sleep phases, sleepquality and/or duration, pH levels, hydration levels, and respirationrate. The device may also measure or calculate metrics related to theenvironment around the user such as barometric pressure, weatherconditions (for example, temperature, humidity, pollen count, airquality, rain/snow conditions, wind speed), light exposure (for example,ambient light, UV light exposure, time and/or duration spent indarkness), noise exposure, radiation exposure, and magnetic field.

Still further, other metrics can include, without limitation, caloriesburned by a user, weight gained by a user, weight lost by a user, stairsascended, e.g., climbed, etc., by a user, stairs descended by a user,variation in the user's altitude, steps taken by a user during walkingor running, a number of rotations of a bicycle pedal rotated by a user,sedentary activity data, driving a vehicle, a number of golf swingstaken by a user, a number of forehands of a sport played by a user, anumber of backhands of a sport played by a user, or a combinationthereof. In some embodiments, sedentary activity data is referred toherein as inactive activity data or as passive activity data. In someembodiments, when a user is not sedentary and is not sleeping, the useris active. In some embodiments, a user may stand on a monitoring devicethat determines a physiological parameter of the user. For example, auser stands on a scale that measures a weight, a body fat percentage, abiomass index, or a combination thereof, of the user.

Furthermore, the device or the system collating the data streams maycalculate metrics derived from this data. For example, the device orsystem may calculate the user's stress and/or relaxation levels througha combination of heart rate variability, skin conduction, noisepollution, and sleep quality. In another example, the device or systemmay determine the efficacy of a medical intervention (for example,medication) through the combination of medication intake, sleep and/oractivity data. In yet another example, the device or system maydetermine the efficacy of an allergy medication through the combinationof pollen data, medication intake, sleep and/or activity data. Theseexamples are provided for illustration only and are not intended to belimiting or exhaustive.

This information can be associated to the users account, which can bemanaged by an activity management application on the server. Theactivity management application can provide access to the users accountand data saved thereon. The activity manager application running on theserver can be in the form of a web application. The web application canprovide access to a number of websites screens and pages that illustrateinformation regarding the metrics in various formats. This informationcan be viewed by the user, and synchronized with a computing device ofthe user, such as a smart phone.

In one embodiment, the data captured by the activity tracking device 100is received by the computing device, and the data is synchronized withthe activity measured application on the server. In this example, dataviewable on the computing device (e.g. smart phone) using an activitytracking application (app) can be synchronized with the data present onthe server, and associated with the user's account. In this way,information entered into the activity tracking application on thecomputing device can be synchronized with application illustrated in thevarious screens of the activity management application provided by theserver on the website.

The user can therefore access the data associated with the user accountusing any device having access to the Internet. Data received by thenetwork 176 can then be synchronized with the user's various devices,and analytics on the server can provide data analysis to providerecommendations for additional activity, and or improvements in physicalhealth. The process therefore continues where data is captured,analyzed, synchronized, and recommendations are produced. In someembodiments, the captured data can be itemized and partitioned based onthe type of activity being performed, and such information can beprovided to the user on the website via graphical user interfaces, or byway of the application executed on the users smart phone (by way ofgraphical user interfaces).

In an embodiment, the sensor or sensors of a device 100 can determine orcapture data to determine an amount of movement of the monitoring deviceover a period of time. The sensors can include, for example, anaccelerometer, a magnetometer, a gyroscope, or combinations thereof.Broadly speaking, these sensors are inertial sensors, which capture somemovement data, in response to the device 100 being moved. The amount ofmovement (e.g., motion sensed) may occur when the user is performing anactivity of climbing stairs over the time period, walking, running, etc.The monitoring device may be worn on a wrist, carried by a user, worn onclothing (using a clip, or placed in a pocket), attached to a leg orfoot, attached to the user's chest, waist, or integrated in an articleof clothing such as a shirt, hat, pants, blouse, glasses, and the like.These examples are not limiting to all the possible ways the sensors ofthe device can be associated with a user or thing being monitored.

In other embodiments, a biological sensor can determine any number ofphysiological characteristics of a user. As another example, thebiological sensor may determine heart rate, a hydration level, body fat,bone density, fingerprint data, sweat rate, and/or a bioimpedance of theuser. Examples of the biological sensors include, without limitation, abiometric sensor, a physiological parameter sensor, a pedometer, or acombination thereof.

In some embodiments, data associated with the user's activity can bemonitored by the applications on the server and the users device, andactivity associated with the user's friends, acquaintances, or socialnetwork peers can also be shared, based on the user's authorization.This provides for the ability for friends to compete regarding theirfitness, achieve goals, receive badges for achieving goals, getreminders for achieving such goals, rewards or discounts for achievingcertain goals, etc.

In some embodiments the heart beats are detected by processing the lightreceived in the light detector, within the sampling time period. A firsttime interval between a first beat of the detected heart beats and asecond heart beat is measured. The sample time interval can be dividedby the first time interval to determine a first estimate of heart beatsdetected within the sampling time period and the first estimate of heartbeats within the sampling time period can be extrapolated to a firstestimated heart beats per minute. The first estimate heart beats perminute can be output to the display screen. At least one beat can beadded to the first estimate of heart beats to produce a second estimateof heart beats that can be scored with the first estimate of heartbeats. A highest scoring of the first estimate of heart beats and thesecond estimate of heart beats can be selected and output to the displayscreen.

In another embodiment, at least one beat can be subtracted from thefirst estimate of beats to produce a third estimate of heart beats. Thefirst estimate of heart beats and the third estimate of heart beats canbe scored. A highest scoring of the first estimate of heart beats andthe third estimate of heart beats can be selected and output to thedisplay screen.

In another embodiment, identifying the heart beats of the user andproducing an indication of a heart rate can include identifying andfiltering a falsely detected heart beat coinciding with motion detectedby the motion sensor. By way of example, a user's motion may beerroneously identified as a heart beat. The processor can comparedetected motion (i.e., motion data, instantaneous shocks, etc.) to thedetected heart beats and identify heart beats that coincide with motiondata. Further, as the motion data and heart beat data are compiled overtime, detected motions that often produce corresponding erroneouslydetected heart beats can be identified and filtered from the detectedheart beats.

In another embodiment, activity tracking device includes a housingincluding a motion sensor and a processor. The processor is configuredfor processing motion data produced by the motion sensor. A displayscreen is integrated with the housing to display metrics that quantifythe motion data produced by the motion sensor. A light source isintegrated within the housing to enable light to be directed out of thehousing at a heart rate monitor location on the housing. A lightdetector is also integrated within the housing. The light detector isconfigured to capture an amount of the light that is reflected back tothe light detector, at least a first portion of the light reflected backto the light detector is reflected from a blood vessel disposed under askin of a user when the user places the skin over the heart rate monitorlocation on the housing. The processor can be in communication with thelight detector to enable processing of the reflected light to identifyheart beats of the user and produce an indication of a heart rate. Theindication of the heart rate being displayable on the display screen asan option, in addition to the metrics that quantify the motion data. Theheart rate can be calculated based on an algorithm that calculates afirst estimate of heart beats per minute corresponding to detected heartbeats in the light received in the light detector within a sampling timeperiod. A refined estimate of heart beats per minute can be calculatedby adding at least one beat to the first estimate of heart beats toproduce a second estimate of heart beats and subtracting at least onebeat from the first estimate of beats to produce a third estimate ofheart beats. The first estimate of heart beats, the second estimate ofheart beats and the third estimate of heart beats are scored and ahighest scoring estimate of heart beats is selected and output to thedisplay screen.

As noted, an activity tracking device 100 can communicate with acomputing device (e.g., a smartphone, a tablet computer, a desktopcomputer, or computer device having wireless communication access and/oraccess to the Internet). The computing device, in turn, can communicateover a network, such as the Internet or an Intranet to provide datasynchronization. The network may be a wide area network, a local areanetwork, or a combination thereof. The network may be coupled to one ormore servers, one or more virtual machines, or a combination thereof. Aserver, a virtual machine, a controller of a monitoring device, or acontroller of a computing device is sometimes referred to herein as acomputing resource. Examples of a controller include a processor and amemory device.

In one embodiment, the processor may be a general purpose processor. Inanother embodiment, the processor can be a customized processorconfigured to run specific algorithms or operations. Such processors caninclude digital signal processors (DSPs), which are designed to executeor interact with specific chips, signals, wires, and perform certainalgorithms, processes, state diagrams, feedback, detection, execution,or the like. In some embodiments, a processor can include or beinterfaced with an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), aprogrammable logic device (PLD), a central processing unit (CPU), or acombination thereof, etc.

In some embodiments, one or more chips, modules, devices, or logic canbe defined to execute instructions or logic, which collectively can beviewed or characterized to be a processor. Therefore, it should beunderstood that a processor does not necessarily have to be one singlechip or module, but can be defined from a collection of electronic orconnecting components, logic, firmware, code, and combinations thereof.

Examples of a memory device include a random access memory (RAM) and aread-only memory (ROM). A memory device may be a Flash memory, aredundant array of disks (RAID), a hard disk, or a combination thereof.

Embodiments described in the present disclosure may be practiced withvarious computer system configurations including hand-held devices,microprocessor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, minicomputers, mainframe computers and the like. Severalembodiments described in the present disclosure can also be practiced indistributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a wire-based or wirelessnetwork.

With the above embodiments in mind, it should be understood that anumber of embodiments described in the present disclosure can employvarious computer-implemented operations involving data stored incomputer systems. These operations are those requiring physicalmanipulation of physical quantities. Any of the operations describedherein that form part of various embodiments described in the presentdisclosure are useful machine operations. Several embodiments describedin the present disclosure also relate to a device or an apparatus forperforming these operations. The apparatus can be specially constructedfor a purpose, or the apparatus can be a computer selectively activatedor configured by a computer program stored in the computer. Inparticular, various machines can be used with computer programs writtenin accordance with the teachings herein, or it may be more convenient toconstruct a more specialized apparatus to perform the requiredoperations.

Various embodiments described in the present disclosure can also beembodied as computer-readable code on a non-transitory computer-readablemedium. The computer-readable medium is any data storage device that canstore data, which can thereafter be read by a computer system. Examplesof the computer-readable medium include hard drives, network attachedstorage (NAS), ROM, RAM, compact disc-ROMs (CD-ROMs), CD-recordables(CD-Rs), CD-rewritables (RWs), magnetic tapes and other optical andnon-optical data storage devices. The computer-readable medium caninclude computer-readable tangible medium distributed over anetwork-coupled computer system so that the computer-readable code isstored and executed in a distributed fashion.

Although the method operations were described in a specific order, itshould be understood that other housekeeping operations may be performedin between operations, or operations may be performed in an order otherthan that shown, or operations may be adjusted so that they occur atslightly different times, or may be distributed in a system which allowsthe occurrence of the processing operations at various intervalsassociated with the processing.

Although the foregoing embodiments have been described in some detailfor purposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent thatcertain changes and modifications can be practiced within the scope ofthe appended claims. Accordingly, the present embodiments are to beconsidered as illustrative and not restrictive, and the variousembodiments described in the present disclosure are not to be limited tothe details given herein, but may be modified within the scope andequivalents of the appended claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. An activity tracking device, comprising: at least onebiometric sensor configured to measure a physiological characteristic ofa user; a light source configured to emit light; a light detectorconfigured to detect light emitted from the light source and reflectedfrom a blood vessel of the user; at least one processor; and a memorystoring computer-executable instructions for controlling the at leastone processor to: determine an amount of light received by the lightdetector based on a signal output from the light detector, at least aportion of the determined amount of light being reflected from the bloodvessel, determine a first reflectance signal of the light reflected fromthe blood vessel between each of a plurality of heart beats based on theamount of light received, determine a second reflectance signalcorresponding to at least one of the heart beats based on the amount oflight received, the second reflectance signal being less than the firstreflectance signal, identify the heart beats based on the first andsecond reflectance signals, and generate an indication of a heart ratebased on the identified heart beats.
 3. The activity tracking device ofclaim 2, wherein the memory further stores computer-executableinstructions for controlling the at least one processor to: identify theheart beats based on differentiating between the first and secondreflectance signals.
 4. The activity tracking device of claim 2, whereinthe memory further stores computer-executable instructions forcontrolling the at least one processor to: identify at least one falselydetected heart beat coinciding with motion detected by the at least onebiometric sensor, and filter the at least one identified falselydetected heart beat.
 5. The activity tracking device of claim 2, furthercomprising: a display screen housed in the activity tracking device,wherein the memory further stores computer-executable instructions forcontrolling the at least one processor to: display the physiologicalcharacteristics via the display screen, and display the indication ofthe heart rate via the display screen.
 6. The activity tracking deviceof claim 5, wherein the memory further stores computer-executableinstructions for controlling the at least one processor to: identify theheart beats based on the signal output from the light detector within asampling time period, measure a first time interval between a first beatof the identified heart beats and a second beat of the identified heartbeats, divide the sample time interval by the first time interval todetermine a first estimate of the heart beats identified within thesampling time period, extrapolate the first estimate of the heart beatswithin the sampling time period to a first estimated heart beats perminute, and display the first estimated heart beats per minute via thedisplay screen.
 7. The activity tracking device of claim 6, wherein thememory further stores computer-executable instructions for controllingthe at least one processor to: add at least one beat to the firstestimate of heart beats to produce a second estimate of heart beats,subtract at least one beat from the first estimate of beats to produce athird estimate of heart beats, score the first estimate of heart beats,the second estimate of heart beats and the third estimate of heartbeats, select a highest scoring of the first estimate of heart beats,the second estimate of heart beats or the third estimate of heart beatsas a selected estimated heart beats per minute, and display the selectedestimated heart beats per minute via the display screen.
 8. The activitytracking device of claim 5, wherein the memory further storescomputer-executable instructions for controlling the at least oneprocessor to: identify the heart beats based on the signal output fromthe light detector within a sampling time period, estimate a firstestimated heart beats per minute corresponding to the heart beatsdetected in the sampling time period, estimate a second estimated heartbeats per minute, wherein the second estimated heart beats per minute isgreater than the first estimated heart beats per minute, estimate athird estimated heart beats per minute, wherein the third estimatedheart beats per minute is less than first estimated heart beats perminute, score the first estimated heart beats per minute, the secondestimated heart beats per minute and the third estimated heart beats perminute, select a highest scoring of the first estimate of heart beats,the second estimate of heart beats and the third estimate of heart beatsas a selected estimated heart beats per minute, and display the selectedestimated heart beats per minute via the display screen.
 9. The activitytracking device of claim 5, further comprising: a pressure sensoradjacent to or collocated with one or more of the light detector and thelight source, wherein the memory further stores computer-executableinstructions for controlling the at least one processor to: detect apressure via the pressure sensor during the identification of heartbeats, and display a feedback signal regarding the detected pressure,the feedback signal being indicative of more or less pressure fordetermining the heart rate.
 10. A method operable by a processor of anactivity tracking device, comprising: determining an amount of lightreceived by a light detector of the activity tracking device based on asignal output from the light detector, at least a first portion of thedetermined amount of light being reflected from a blood vessel disposedunder a skin of a user, the activity tracking device comprising a lightsource configured to emit light onto the blood vessel to be reflected bythe blood vessel; determining a baseline reflectance signal of the lightreflected from the blood vessel between each of a plurality of heartbeats based on the amount of light received; determining a secondreflectance signal corresponding to at least one of the heart beatsbased on the amount of light received, the second reflectance signalbeing less than the baseline reflectance signal; identifying the heartbeats based on the first and second reflectance signals; and generatingan indication of a heart rate based on the identified heart beats. 11.The method of claim 9, further comprising: identifying the heart beatsbased on differentiating between the first and second reflectancesignals.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising: identifying atleast one falsely detected heart beat coinciding with motion detected bythe at least one biometric sensor; and filtering the at least oneidentified falsely detected heart beat.
 13. The method of claim 10,further comprising: displaying the physiological characteristics via adisplay screen of the activity tracking device; and displaying theindication of the heart rate via the display screen.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, further comprising: identifying the heart beats based on thesignal output from the light detector within a sampling time period;measuring a first time interval between a first beat of the identifiedheart beats and a second beat of the identified heart beats; dividingthe sample time interval by the first time interval to determine a firstestimate of the heart beats identified within the sampling time period;extrapolating the first estimate of the heart beats within the samplingtime period to a first estimated heart beats per minute; and displayingthe first estimated heart beats per minute via the display screen. 15.The method of claim 14, further comprising: adding at least one beat tothe first estimate of heart beats to produce a second estimate of heartbeats; subtracting at least one beat from the first estimate of beats toproduce a third estimate of heart beats; scoring the first estimate ofheart beats, the second estimate of heart beats and the third estimateof heart beats; selecting a highest scoring of the first estimate ofheart beats, the second estimate of heart beats or the third estimate ofheart beats as a selected estimated heart beats per minute; anddisplaying the selected estimated heart beats per minute via the displayscreen.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: identifying theheart beats based on the signal output from the light detector within asampling time period; estimating a first estimated heart beats perminute corresponding to the heart beats detected in the sampling timeperiod; estimating a second estimated heart beats per minute, whereinthe second estimated heart beats per minute is greater than the firstestimated heart beats per minute; estimating a third estimated heartbeats per minute, wherein the third estimated heart beats per minute isless than first estimated heart beats per minute; scoring the firstestimated heart beats per minute, the second estimated heart beats perminute and the third estimated heart beats per minute; selecting ahighest scoring of the first estimate of heart beats, the secondestimate of heart beats and the third estimate of heart beats as aselected estimated heart beats per minute; and displaying the selectedestimated heart beats per minute via the display screen.
 17. The methodof claim 13, further comprising: detecting a pressure via a pressuresensor of the activity tracking device during the identification ofheart beats, the pressure sensor located adjacent to or collocated withone or more of the light detector and the light source; and displaying afeedback signal regarding the detected pressure, the feedback signalbeing indicative of more or less pressure for determining the heartrate.
 18. An activity tracking device, comprising: a light sourceconfigured to emit light; a light detector configured to detect lightemitted from the light source and reflected from a blood vessel; atleast one processor; and a memory storing computer-executableinstructions for controlling the at least one processor to: determine anamount of light received by the light detector based on a signal outputfrom the light detector, at least a first portion of the determinedamount of light being reflected from the blood vessel, determine abaseline reflectance signal of the light reflected from the blood vesselbetween each of a plurality of heart beats based on the amount of lightreceived, determine a second reflectance signal corresponding to atleast one of the heart beats based on the amount of light received, thesecond reflectance signal being less than the baseline reflectancesignal, identify the heart beats based on the first and secondreflectance signals, generate an indication of a heart rate based on theidentified heart beats, identify at least one falsely detected heartbeat coinciding with motion detected by the at least one biometricsensor, and filter the at least one identified falsely detected heartbeat from the identified heart beats.
 19. The activity tracking deviceof claim 16, further comprising: a display screen housed in the activitytracking device, wherein the memory further stores computer-executableinstructions for controlling the at least one processor to: display thephysiological characteristics via the display screen, and display theindication of the heart rate via the display screen.
 20. The activitytracking device of claim 17, wherein the memory further storescomputer-executable instructions for controlling the at least oneprocessor to: identify the heart beats based on the signal output fromthe light detector within a sampling time period, measure a first timeinterval between a first beat of the identified heart beats and a secondbeat of the identified heart beats, divide the sample time interval bythe first time interval to determine a first estimate of the heart beatsidentified within the sampling time period, extrapolate the firstestimate of the heart beats within the sampling time period to a firstestimated heart beats per minute, and display the first estimated heartbeats per minute via the display screen.
 21. The activity trackingdevice of claim 18, wherein the memory further storescomputer-executable instructions for controlling the at least oneprocessor to: add at least one beat to the first estimate of heart beatsto produce a second estimate of heart beats, subtract at least one beatfrom the first estimate of beats to produce a third estimate of heartbeats, score the first estimate of heart beats, the second estimate ofheart beats and the third estimate of heart beats, select a highestscoring of the first estimate of heart beats, the second estimate ofheart beats or the third estimate of heart beats as a selected estimatedheart beats per minute, and display the selected estimated heart beatsper minute via the display screen.